LETTER TO THE EDITOR
San Gabriel HEAR Commission (Photos – sangabrielcity.com)
By Christian Port
“Dear Editor,
In response to Commissioner Cheryl Cabot’s [Letter to the Editor], I, as Board Vice President of the San Gabriel Valley LGBTQ Center, wish to clarify and counter several points raised.
The San Gabriel Valley LGBTQ Center is deeply committed to fostering a community where everyone feels safe, respected, and seen. Initiatives like the HEAR Commission’s “All Are Welcome” program are critical in achieving this, offering voluntary – not mandatory – opportunities for businesses and public buildings to express support for inclusivity visibly. Commissioner Cabot aims to disrespect and diminish the lived experiences of the LGBTQ+ community, including People of Color, by referring to this as a “sticker project.”
Councilmember Menchaca’s resistance to supporting such initiatives, coupled with her self-description as an ally, contradicts the essence of true allyship and inclusion, which demands actions that affirm the rights and visibility of historically oppressed and excluded communities. Councilmember Menchaca’s reluctance to support the project is not an exercise in due diligence but a failure to recognize the value of visible allyship and inclusivity, especially against the backdrop of rising hate crimes against the LGBTQ+ community in the San Gabriel Valley.
Commissioner Cabot’s dismissal of “All Are Welcome” only underscores the dire need for inclusivity programs like this. The notion posited by Commissioner Cabot, that advocating for LGBTQ+ inclusivity is somehow not a pressing issue within San Gabriel, not only ignores the lived experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals and People of Color but also contributes to their erasure and silencing.
We are living in an era where young people’s identities are under attack. Across the United States, homophobic and transphobic legislation is spreading like wildfire. Locally, LGBTQ+ youth across LA County are experiencing staggering rates of bullying, anxiety, and depression. LGBTQ+ youth suicide rates continue to rise. Excluding LGBTQ+ youth from discussions that impact them directly is not only damaging but also silences the voices of those we should be empowering. Young LGBTQ+ individuals deserve platforms to share their experiences and insights in respectful, affirming environments.
The opposition to these inclusivity efforts is disheartening and demonstrates a profound misunderstanding of the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ community members in San Gabriel. This stance, unfortunately, contributes to the very issues of feeling unseen and unsafe that many in our community experience daily.
The SGV LGBTQ Center remains steadfast in our mission to build a more inclusive San Gabriel Valley, where every individual, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, can live authentically and freely without fear. We invite all community members, including elected officials and commissioners, to join us in this vital effort to take a stand against hate.
All Are Welcome.”
Christian Port is the Board Vice President of the San Gabriel Valley LGBTQ Center.
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